Tilt: The Search for Media Bias

(Hardback)

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Presents the first comprehensive review of the charges, the evidence, and the effects of media bias allegations. Nine in ten Americans believe the media are biased. Trust in journalists ranks beneath that in lawyers, and even the media themselves regularly portray their own industry as slanted toward Democrats and liberals. These perceptions, however, do not coincide with reality, as David Niven reveals in his bold new take on an often-debated subject. Tilt The Search for Media Bias presents the first comprehensive review of the charges, the evidence, and the effects, beginning with a simple but altogether overlooked premise: to measure media bias or fairness, one has to have a fair baseline with which to compare coverage. Using situations in which presidents, governors, mayors, and members of Congress from different political parties have produced the same results in office, Tilt compares media coverage of Democrats and Republicans in situations in which they clearly deserved equal treatment. The lack of evidence for partisan media bias is only part of the story. The media cover allegations of bias as if their industry has already been tried and convicted, while the American people readily accepted the premise that their main sources of information are selfishly slanted toward reporters' personal political agendas. Niven's findings, unmistakable and consistent, reveal that when the output of politicians is the same, media coverage follows--a conclusion that is as provocative as it is timely and necessary.

Reviews

Niven offers a new insight into the perpetual debate concerning political bias in the news media. His review of the political science literature shows that to date this issue is unresolved....In a series of carefully controlled studes Niven demonstrates that in political matters news media shows no bias. However, using the same research design Niven finds clear bias in terms of stories dealing with race and gender. He also finds a strong tendency to report even in negative terms....Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.-Choice
"Niven offers a new insight into the perpetual debate concerning political bias in the news media. His review of the political science literature shows that to date this issue is unresolved....In a series of carefully controlled studes Niven demonstrates that in political matters news media shows no bias. However, using the same research design Niven finds clear bias in terms of stories dealing with race and gender. He also finds a strong tendency to report even in negative terms....Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty."-Choice

Author Bio

DAVID NIVEN is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Florida Atlantic University.